Monday, 2 January 2012

Captive in the Dark by C.J. Roberts (Dark Duet #1)

Caleb is a man with a
singular interest in revenge. Kidnapped as a young boy and sold into
slavery by a power-hungry mobster, he has thought of nothing but
vengeance. For twelve years he has immersed himself in the world of
pleasure slaves searching for the one man he holds ultimately
responsible. Finally, the architect of his suffering has emerged with a
new identity, but not a new nature. If Caleb is to get close enough to
strike, he must become the very thing he abhors and kidnap a beautiful
girl to train her to be all that he once was.Eighteen-year-old
Olivia Ruiz has just woken up in a strange place. Blindfolded and bound,
there is only a calm male voice to welcome her. His name is Caleb,
though he demands to be called Master. Olivia is young, beautiful, naïve
and willful to a fault. She has a dark sensuality that cannot be hidden
or denied, though she tries to accomplish both. Although she is
frightened by the strong, sadistic, and arrogant man who holds her
prisoner, what keeps Olivia awake in the dark is her unwelcome
attraction to him.

I found this book while I was book shopping, and I was first attracted to the cover. I then read the blurb for the book, and while normally this is not a book I would ever choose to read, the subject matter being something I would run away screaming from, I found myself curious. I was curious how the author would pull this off. Could she make me like the hero? Could I really read this book?

I knew this would be a dark story. What I wasn’t prepared for is just how dark of a place this book would take me. This is the most raw, and gritty book I have ever read. C.J. Roberts absolutely put me to the test with this one. By the time I finished this book I was too mentally exhausted to react to the ending. There were a couple of times I wasn’t sure I could continue, but I just couldn’t bring myself to put it down. The author’s writing was fantastic! The story alternates from Olivia’s 1st person POV, which puts you directly in her mind, and what is physically happening to her. Then it switches to 3rd person when Caleb’s story is being told. I had no difficulty in following the story being written this way, and in fact I loved it. It was so emotionally draining being inside Olivia’s head, but it made me understand her thought process better and relate to her. Caleb’s side of things being told in the 3rd person was perfect, because he is not the kind of guy that’s going to bear his soul for me, and I got to learn all about his heartbreaking past.

I didn’t start out liking the hero at all, I wasn’t suppose to giving the circumstances. About halfway through, I still wasn’t so sure about him. So, did the author make me like the hero? YES she did! By the time Mrs. Roberts was finished with me, I wanted to hold Caleb and assure him everything would be okay. (Maybe I have a case of Stockholm syndrome, LOL!) Olivia and Caleb are damaged beyond repair, but I want to see them find happiness, and find a way out of the huge mess that surrounds them. Did I like this book? ABSOLUTELY!!

I didn’t touch on the plot because the blurb tells the reader what they need to know. The story / plot was excellent, there were times I was holding my breath and didn’t realize it until I exhaled. These are my thoughts and feelings, take from it what you will. If you are thinking of reading this book, open your mind, and prepare yourself to go on a very dark journey. I was disturbed by some of the things I read, and some of the events made my heart pound, but I don’t regret a single page. C.J. Roberts has a new fan, and I can hardly wait for book 2.

QUOTE: "His touch was simple, but specific, meant to show me he could be like a
lover, gentle, intimate, but also that he was a man unaccustomed to
hearing the word no. Yes. I understood. He was a man, and I? I was
nothing but a girl, not even a woman. I was meant to fall at his feet
and worship at the altar of his masculinity, grateful that he’d deigned
to acknowledge me. All this, from a simple touch.- C.J.Roberts

If you are a book reviewer, have a blog, and are interested in reviewing Captive in the Dark,

You can contact C.J. Roberts by email authorcjroberts@gmail.com, or visit her website: http://www.aboutcjroberts.com/Please include a link to your blog.

7 comments:

I finished this book Saturday. I have to write the review still, but Rhonda you are right on. There were times when I felt dirty for what I was reading, but not in a twisted freak way, more like wow---there are really people out there like this. It was the second most emotionally disturbing book I've ever read. Kudos to the author for making me sweat it out with her. Great review. Keep 'em coming. I totally buy from your reviews. lol.

Thank you Rachel! I was hoping I wouldn't be alone in my feelings. I think C.J. Has an amazing talent, just like several of the authors I've read this year. Most of my favorite books this year came from unknown our indie authors. Thanks for following Rachel. Xoxoxo

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